Earlier this year, a bill (HB 4169) was introduced in Texas that would’ve created a legal and logistical mess for fire restoration contractors. On paper, it looked like consumer protection. In practice, it would’ve slowed emergency response, created liability traps for restorers, and introduced rules so vague they were nearly impossible to comply with.
This bill would’ve required:
- That we submit fire restoration contracts to the Secretary of State (yes, really),
- Contracts signed before an insurance assessment are labeled “pre-estimate” and aren’t binding unless they include specific disclosures, like the insurer’s estimated payout and the property owner’s expected out-of-pocket costs.
- Any attempt by parties to contract around these requirements is void, and any violations could expose a contractor to deceptive trade practice lawsuits.
This bill would have slowed down emergency fire response by making early contracts essentially non-binding unless they included insurer estimates, figures that contractors often don’t have access to. It also opened the door to legal risk over small paperwork errors and added unnecessary government red tape.
Now here’s the part I’m excited about: this bill died fast. I’m talking within just a few weeks. And it died because restorers showed up.
RIA’s AGA team activated members across Texas. People sent emails, made phone calls, and stepped up. And because of that collective effort, HB 4169 stalled in committee and never moved forward.
That’s what advocacy looks like when it works.
Here’s why this matters beyond Texas:
Legislation like this spreads. What starts in Austin or Sacramento or Tallahassee has a way of finding its way to the desks of lawmakers across the country. If this bill had passed, it would have given momentum to others just like it. But because it didn’t, because the restoration industry responded quickly and with clarity, that door is now closed for everyone.
This is an example of what’s possible when our industry doesn’t sit back and let someone else decide how we do our work.
So, what do we do now?
We stay alert. We stay connected. We show up again.
If you’re not already involved with the Advocacy and Government Affairs work RIA is doing, now is the time. If you’re waiting to support the efforts until they impact your backyard, I’d encourage you to rethink that timeline. This win proves we can protect the future of this industry, but only if we keep showing up.
Thanks for being in the fight with us.
Jeff Moore